Holder for flash lights or similar articles



Junezs, 1929. @asm/SON 1,718,3164

I HOLDER FOR FLASH LIGHTS OR SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed Jan. 14, 1928 Il Il 'l Il l l Patented June 25, 1.929.

CHARLES o. swENsoN, or MINNEAPoLrs, MINNESOTA.

HOLDER FOR FLASH LIGHTS OR SIMILAR ARTICLES.

Application led January 14, 1928. Serial No. 246,706.

It is the object of this invention to providenovel and improved spring clip holders for fiashlights, tools and similar articles. To this end, the invention consists in the novel parts and novel combinations of parts hereinafter defined in the claims and described in the following specification made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the various views, and, in which Fig. l is a plan view of the device attached to a support and carrying a flashlight;

lFig. 2 is a vertical section takenon the line 2-2 of Fig. l, as is indicated by the arrows, a flashlight being indicated in dotted lilies and the spring clips being illustrated in one position in full lines and in another position in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3h?) of Fig. 2, as is indicated by the arrows, a flashlight being shown in dotted lines, and the arms of a spring clip being shown in one position in full lines and in another position in dotted lines, and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the device with an additional part which may, or may not be used as desired.

Referring to the drawings, a long straight bar 5 is shown having placed above the same a Second long co-operating bar 6. 'The bar 6 is provided with an upwardly offset portion 68L sha ed in the form of a bow to form a long slot 7 between the central portions of the two bars. A pair of spring clips 8 are provided which, as shown, are of substantially U- shape, the arms of the clips projecting upwardly from the base of the U and being first bent slightly toward each other, then being slightly rounded and bent first away from each other then toward each other and having outer ends bent away from each other. The base of the U of each clip 8 is provided with an upwardly offset portion 8a adjacent its center which offset portion is of bow shape. Co-operating bolt holes are provided through the bar and the bow portion 6a of the bar 6 at spaced intervals throughout the length of the two bars.A Preferably four sets of bolt holes will be provided and a bolt 9 will be inserted through each set of co-operhave a co-operatmg be preferably countersunk for reception of the heads of the bolts 9, while the nuts fitthe b ting on the bolts will be disposed above the ar 6.- o-operating bolt holes will be provided at each end of the two bars through whlch screws l0 may be inserted for securing ars to a support, such as the support 1,1. In assembling the device, the bolts 9 and l0 will be removed, whereupon the spring clips 8 maybe inserted within the slots 7 between respective adjacent pairs of bolt holes within which the bolts 9 may be received. The bow shaped portions 8a of the spring clips are of a length to equal the width of the bars 5 and 6, so that when the spring clips are placed with the bow portions 8a directly over the bar 5 and transversely thereof, the ends of the bow portions will strike the sides of prevent the spring clips from being turned from a position transverse to the bars 5 and 6.- After the bar 6 has been placed over the bow portions of the spring clips, the bolts 9 with their co-operating nuts will be putin place untightened. rlhe two spring clips may then be moved for some little distance laterally within the slots 7 until the clips are spaced apart a desired distance, whereupon the bolts 9 will be tightened in their nuts to cause the bars 5 and 6 to securely clamp the spring clips in position. Due to the fact that the spacing between adjacent bolts 9 will be considerably greater than the width of the spring clips 8, a spring clamping action will be obtained on the central p0rtions of the spring clips which will securely hold the clips from vsliding movement relative to the bars 5 and 6. As before stated, turning movement of the clips relative to the bars 5 and 6 will be prevented due to the construction of the bow shaped offset portions of the clips. When the device is thus assembled, the base formed from the two bars 5 and 6 maybe secured as by screws or bolts 10 to a suitable support. An article such as the flashlight l2 may now be inserted within the spring clips by pressing the same into the clips. The outer ends of the clips will orm guides for the article as it is inserted, while'the rounded surfaces will form clamping arms for reception of the article. It will be seen that when the article is in place within the spring clips, it will be securely held under spring tension from movement.

In Fig- 4, a washer 13 is provided which may be interposed against the' lower side of the bow portion 8 of a spring clip to act as a spacing member for filling up the space between the lower side of the bow portion 8a and the base of the U forming a clip. When the spacing washer 13 is used, it will be seen that the clips may be rotated relative to the bars 5 and 6 before the bolts 9 are tightened.

Thus, the clips may be disposed at any desired angle relative to the bars, for reception of tools of irregular shape, such as .automobile cranks, braces and bits etc. The device may be used with or without the spacing washers 13 as desired. v

Although the device is capable of being situated and used as desired, it is especially suited for use in automobiles for holding flashlights, tools etc., for the reason that the spring clips will securely hold the desired article without permitting any rattle between the parts.

It will be understood that the device is capable of changes and modifications of the various parts without departing from the scope of the invent-ion.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. A holder for flashlights or similar articles comprising, a straight bar adapted to be secured to a support, a co-operating bar placed against said first bar and having an upwardly projecting odset portion therein to afford a slot between said bars, a pair of U-shaped spring clips having central bottom portions adapted to be interposed within said slot in spaced relation and means for clamping said two bars together to tightly secure said spring clips in position.

2. A holder for flashlights or similar articles comprising a straight bar adapted to be secured to a support, a' co-operating bar adapted to be/placed over said first bar and having an offset portion therein to afford a slot between said first and second mentioned bars, bolts extending through said yfirst bar and the oHset portion of said second bal` at spaced intervals and a pair of U-shaped j spring clips having central portions adapted to be disposed within the slot between said bars and between pairs of adjacent bolts extending through said bars, said spring clips being ofconsi'derably narrower width than the spacing between adjacent bolts, whereby the relative spacing between the said clips maybe varied.

3. The structure defined in claim 2, the midi dle portions of said spring clips being upwardly pressed from the bottoms thereof to form offset portions of a length equal to the width of said bars, whereby the shoulders of' the said ofl'sct portions will prevent turning movement of said clips respective t0 said bars.

4. A holder for flashlights or similar articles comprising, a straight bar adapted to be secured to a support, a co-operating bar adapted to be placed over said first bar and having a bow portion therein to afford a slot between said first and second mentioned bars, bolts extending through said first bar and the offset portion of said second bar at spaced intervals, a pair of U-shaped spring clips having slightly offset bowed central portions adapted to be disposed within the slots formed between said bars and adjacent bolts extending through said bars and spacing members interposed within the bowed portions of said U-shaped clips, said spring clips and spacing members being of considerably narrower width than the spacing between adjacent bolts, whereby the relative spacing between said clips may be varied and the angle of disposition ofisaid clips relative to said bars may be varied.

5. A spring clip adapted to receive and hold an article, said clip being of general U shape, the base of the U having its central portion upwardly pressed to formshoulders with the remainder of the base, whereby said upwardly pressed portion of the base can be inserted between clamping members, to cause said shoulders to prevent turning movement of said clip.

6. A holder for flashlights or similar articles comprising a straight bar adapted to be secured to a support, a partially resilient cooperating bar placed against said first bar and having an upwardly projecting odset portion therein to afford a comparatively long slot between said bars, a U-shaped spring clip having a central bottom portion of nar- CHARLES o. swENsoN. 

